{??}

I have no idea what happened to my blog background.  It simply vanished.  I'll see what I can do, but it probably won't be today.  Or, tomorrow.  More along the lines of whenever I can.  :(

{it's birthday week around here}

 I'm about to have a teenager.

 

I'm about to be a mom of a teenager.

 

I'm watching this little soul become a young man.

 

I'm a mess.

 

A complete and utter mess.

 

HOWEVER, instead of curling up on the couch and pulling

the quilt over my head in relation to the speed at which

he is growing.......I'm going to embrace it and party all week long. 

Because I'm that kind of mom.  Or, at least I strive to be on most days.

 

I can say that with a smile, but there are also

tears just waiting to spill. And, to be honest, a few have.

 

 Birthdays are always so

emotional for me as our precious birth mom is never

from my thoughts or my heart; and, particularly so this year. 

Because of the incredible son we gained, she lost that same

incredible son.  There is no way around it, it's such

a bittersweet, emotional, sacrificial plan.

 

We are blessed beyond words that God intended for us to

have the exquisite joy of loving and raising him.   There are simply

no words.  Adoption is an INCREDIBLE reflection of God's heart.

In every single aspect. 

 

A gift.

 

One that Scott and I were very undeserving of, but oh, so thankful

for.  As we enter these twilight zone  teenage years, my prayers

are stronger than they've ever been before.  I pray that

we rise to the trust we've been given and love him like

no one else could with that eternal perspective never far from our

hearts and minds.   

 

Happy birthday week, Noah.  I love you more

than words can say. 

addendum:  from my devotional this morning....

"Do not fear change, for I am making you a new
creation, with old things passing away and new things
continually on the horizon.  When you cling to old ways
and sameness, you resist My work within you.  I want you to
embrace all that I am doing in your life, finding security
in Me alone."  Jesus Calling.

Can I get a wow?

{really, I'm back}

i'm a bit under the weather with a cold - aches and all.

so, i'm on the couch for day #2 and am going to HAVE

to drag myself over to the computer as i have no choice.

in the meantime, i've been dreaming of christmas.  i was 

suppose to have all of next week off session wise, but 

because of the weather of late, i will be shooting every day, sometimes

up to 3 sessions, except for thanksgiving day.  last night,

i got to see the beautiful christmas decor at HG's and it 

totally put me in the spirit.  well, when i feel better it will.

sooooo, i pulled up last years december posts to take 

a quick peek of how i decorated last year.  not a single

picture posted.  how did i do that???  made me sad. 

then, i scrolled through a few posts and it made 

me realize how important this blog is to memory keeping.

so, no pictures to post today, but i'm here.

and, plan to be back.  

"tiptoeing back in?}

wow.

 

june 2013 was my last post. 

 

i've missed it SO much, but everything

else has held a greater priority it seems.

 

but, i had to dig through the archives to find

a particular post a few weeks ago {confession:

how i set up my Halloween décor last year to make

things easier, lol} and got caught up in reading and

looking through old posts.  SOOOOOO.....

 

do i dare say that i am back?  several of my

friends have fallen off the wagon as well.

life is just TOO busy.

 

but, i am going to put forth some great effort here. between

a massive amount of work {i don't even want to detail the mounds

of that right now}, to an unexpected revamp of the evening schedule

for some frequent football practice, to many unexpected health issues of

family members and very untimely deaths/funerals, busy school days,

a house that has imploded,  two cars that are in dire need of servicing,

etc, etc, etc. - i am determined to be back. 

 

just in time for the holidays. 

 

there.

 

i've tiptoed back in and am going to

post a random picture to seal the deal. 

 

 

a final nod to summer as we are about to

be hit by our first artic blast.

 

 

{time is flying!}

how is it that we are already at the end of June??!?

 

makes me sad, but, i'm trying to focus on the here and now.

all the while in a dead run. 

 

since today is the first day of summer, it seemed

like I should at least post something.  but, for now,

as i am in a mad dash to prepare and leave town for

a wedding.  snippets only will have to do. 

 

we are doing loads of this.....

 

 

this has become my therapy.....

 

first fruits....YUM!

{a new compact variety for my raised beds}

 

new garden design.  it rained so much we couldn't get

it tilled - so, scott bulldozed a "raised" big bed.  so far, so good! 

except for the rabbits! :(

noah is eating very healthy this summer by request.

homemade blueberry muffins, fresh berries and skim milk.  

 

evan is not partaking.  pass the cocoa puffs please.

but, he eats healthy 90% of the time - almost too healthy, so

he gets a breakfast pass. ;)

 

 

a quick trip to magic springs to see building 429.  we got there

as the water park was closing.  sad little guys!  ice cream made

it all better though! :)  

 

contemporary christian concerts are something i love chasing

with the boys!  i never have to worry about lyrics and 

it is AMAZING to literally worship under the stars. love

every aspect of it.  :)

 



 

 my little loves.

daddy doesn't do concerts. :(

 



no sand, but still fun!

 



 

the lead singer came really close into our area. 

evan wanted to "touch him".  i'm glad he didn't! ;)

one of the best messages i have ever heard at a concert.

i HIGHLY recommend building 429 music and

they just had a new album release. 

 

 

so far production is down, but, we are getting what we can.  

 

literally when we can.

i am the new official weather girl on the

farm. i get calls throughout the day for

radar checks.  stressful when you

have hay on the ground or just hours away

from it being cured.

 

lots of creative time.

now did this as a joke. 

i didn't laugh. ;)

 



 

my little raised beds.  the pictures do not

do them justice at all.  i am loving them.

i've got loads of fresh basil that i've been eating

daily,  tons of dill for upcoming canning,

cilantro for yummy salsa, several varieties of

peppers, compact tomatoes, parsley, lavender

and loads of flowers.  LOVE.

 

 

i am determined to keep these lovelies alive this summer.

i'll just ignore the water bill.

 

random goggles on the bumper of the car...

 

 

sweet killdeer {spelling?} eggs.  i am

overfeeding the cats so they won't be as tempted.

 

pretty blue eggs that i climbed a tree to peek at until

i heard {but did not see} angry mama bird. 

 

 

stray cat named morris.

i guess i should name the stray raccoon that visits our

back porch every night.  he looks like a herman as

he scatters away when i open the door and he gives

me a heart attack.    

 

it will never be done.

my little compacts produce crazy amounts of tomatoes.

 

 

bell pepper for my mother in law. 

 

it's getting there.  slowly but surely.

am loving these double bloom petunias.  almost look like

peonies.  if you squint tight enough.

 



 

boys had just exited right before i started snapping.  

 

 

love watching this process.  the little tendrils amaze me.

God thought of every single detail.

 

my first cucumber.  days of canning coming soon!

i have a blue ribbon recipe this year to mix it up a bit. 

 

don't judge.

i am going to amaze the three doubters i live with.

this will soon be covered in pumpkins!

i have no little doubt.

 

the only leftovers from last year. 

we came close. too close.

 

peaches.

 

you can't really see, but wild blackberries are everywhere.

the pond is full.

 



 

there is hay out there!

 

 feeling very blessed.

now, if i can just get completely caught up with work.

 

life would be very different. 

praying that happens soon!

 



i need a tutorial on emoji's.

 



watering. 

 



going through lots of this.

 



 

 

nothing very exciting happening around here. 

but, evan told me today he loves being home

as he  wrapped himself up in a blanket.

 

no dispute from me.